1949 P3 Restoration help!

[classicclara]

Hi.

Have just bought a 1949 P3, some restoration has been done, it's currently in the garage having solenoid/starter repairs and hopefully nothing untoward will get picked up!
The interior is tan seats and doorcards. Headlining has been ripped out and needs replacing. The exterior is grey. What colour did the P3s originally come in?

Can someone give advice on headlining, materials etc. How much would you expect the headlining fitting to cost as I've just had a quote 'upwards of £3000!!' Also how much have you paid for seat repairs or replacement?

Also has anyone any recommendations on restorers/upholsterers/trimmers/paint sprayers in Norfolk or Suffolk area!

Thanks!

[lakesrally]

Grey is an original colour. They also came in black, green and maroon, there might have been a blue, though I cannot remember seeing one and I'm not at home so do not have access to my books. £3,000 seems a lot just to do a headlining.

[dhbuchanan]

£3K for a P3 headlining! Either that's a blatant rip-off price, or the trimmer, for some reason, doesn't want the job. OE for a Rover headlining is mixed-fibre Union cloth, not pure wool West of England. Don't pay any more than £800.

[classicclara]

Thanks for replies guys - I thought £3000++ was a huge amount to pay (obviously wasn't going to go with that trimmer!)

So £800 maximum for headlining. What about re-covering the seats, what's the maximum I should pay for this?

[P3Steve]

Hi Classicclara I can recommend this guy "Broadland upholstery" for trim and upholstery. He's in Norfolk just up the coast from Great Yarmouth so not hard to get to from Suffolk. He's a nice guy very approachable and when you visit he's more than happy to let you look round his work shop so you can see the standard of his work, I've never had any major work done buy him but have often had trim parts etc off him and he's always seemed fair price wise. He has a very good local reputation in the classic community. here's a link
http://www.cartrimmers.co.uk/
PS I'm only in Great Yarmouth and had my P3 about 14 years now so if you need any help, advice or just a chat drop me a line on here, Regards Steve

[dhbuchanan]

It's not possible to give prices for seat work without a minute examination as there are so many variables: frame condition, state of springs and upholstery stuffing, leather type, carpet cladding etc. Even then, there can be nasty, expensive surprises when seats are stripped, not the least of them woodworm infestation of the plywood and a legacy of bad botches in the past. Headlinings are very difficult to get 100% right, but they are simple structures compared to seats.

[luli]

Some pictures of seats restoration you can see here:
http://wp.me/pXLKy-S2 and here http://wp.me/pXLKy-10m and here http://wp.me/pXLKy-Pt

[classicclara]

Thanks for further replies
Particularly P3Steve, many thanks, nice to know there's someone local with an interest in P3s and is there willing to give advice if needed. Much obliged.

[classicclara]

[MikeB]

Hi 3k for a roof lining!

I can recommend TLC in Newark,( on the web) just had my 10 completely re trimmed including head lining all seats and door cards in leather, new carpets all round and all other trim in the car 3.2 K and an excellent Job I will up load a picture when I understand how to do it !

Regards

Mike